A Prayer for Blessing
May the Mother in us comfort us
And the Father in us protect us;
May the Daughter in us bring us Hope
And the Son within us increase our Joy.
May the Dancer in us move us
And the Poet inspire our Song.
May the Explorer embolden us
And the Artist honor the Beauty that holds us.
May we all be Creators and Priests and Nurses and Heroes,
And may our Song lift beyond these walls
To light the world.

Programming Aids

Performance Difficulty:

moderate

Descriptive Terms:

blessing

universal prayer

hope

celebration

Allow Excerpts:

Composition is a single movement

Composer’s Notes:

“Light the World” was commissioned by Te Deum, Matthew Christopher Shepard, conductor, for the 10th Anniversary Season in Kansas City, Missouri. Robert Bode wrote this beautiful poem for the occasion, which made composing this blessing to commemorate Te Deum’s anniversary an even greater honor for me.